Student brings gun and ammo to Pineville High School

He had a gun and ammo all in his backpack. A student at Pineville High School is now facing charges for bringing that weapon among other things to school.

The school district said they acted quickly to make sure that all students were safe. Parents said they are upset though because the school was never locked down.

Administrators learned about the gun Wednesday morning.

"Information came to the high school principal that the student had a gun in his backpack," said Mike White, Superintendent of Pineville Independent Schools.

School leaders along with a police officer went to the classroom where the student was working.

They found a pistol and ammo in his backpack along with marijuana, alcohol, and a knife.

"Check lockers, check backpacks, to make sure that it was isolated to just the one subject," said Kenny Shaw, with Pineville Police.

"We created a safe environment within a matter of minutes," said White.

Superintendent White said that is why the school was not locked down, because officials determined the student was acting alone.

"I found out about fifteen minutes after three o'clock after the school was closed," said Imajean Foister, a concerned parent.

Foister said she and other parents are angry because the school district never told them what happened - and although her children are in the elementary building, all the school buildings are connected.

"I know they can't notify every parent, but it seems like they could've done a lockdown to where there would at least have been a little bit of safety," said Foister.

"Our thought process was that we won't send out a message that sends an alarm because we have taken this problem, and we have it under control," said White.

Regardless both parents and administrators are grateful the outcome wasn’t much worse.

"As a parent, it upsets you that your child was that close to something that could've been very dangerous," said Foister.

That student is facing many charges and is in custody at a juvenile facility in Adair County.

Administrators said they've had discussions with students about what happened yesterday and why being aware when at school is so important - because it was student tips that led them to find that weapon.

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